Black Women Rock! Concert & Master Class Returns to The Wright Museum

The Charles H. Wright Museum & the jess Care moore foundation present Black Women Rock!, a live music concert and master class to take place the weekend of March 18 and 19. Both events will take place at the museum, located at 315 East Warren Avenue in Midtown Detroit.

In 2005, renowned poet, writer and performer jessica Care moore producedBlack Women Rock! A Tribute to Rock Icon Betty Davis in conjunction with The National Black Arts Festival to showcase young, independent women artists of color who made a living as composers, guitarists, vocalists, producers and arts educators in the genre of Rock and Roll. These contemporary artists defy the stereotype of what a rock and roll artist looks and sounds like, and are the spiritual descendents of Betty Davis, Tina Turner, Nona Hendrix, Patti Labelle Maxanne, and Janis Joplin. These trailblazing pioneers have spent their careers fighting biases and breaking down barriers of image, politics and sexuality in the music industry. In honor of Women’s History Month, Black Women Rock! debuted in Detroit in March 2010 at the Charles H. Wright Museum to a standing room-only audience.

The free accompanying workshop and They Say I'm Different Master Class takes place Saturday March 19 from 1 – 3 pm after a belly-dancing warm up and introduction at noon courtesy of House of Bassett. Hosted by Piper Carter, this insightful postlude to the Black Women Rock! concert will feature inspiring commentary and dialogue with the performers and other women artists who’ve made names for themselves and their communities despite institutional and industry resistance. This event is free and open to the public, and more information can be found on the museum’s event page at http://chwmuseum.org/upcoming-events/details/159-black-women-rock-panel-discussion.

A Black Women Rock! art exhibition, “The Holy Trinity,” curated by Ingrid LaFleur will be featured in the rotunda of the museum both days. Featured artists include Jocelyn Rainey, Sabrina Nelson, jessica Care moore and Jo’burg based, Ayana V Jackson.

Five-time Night at the Apollo champion jessica Care moore is the author of The Words Don't Fit in My Mouth, The Alphabet VersesThe Ghetto, God is Not an American, and a forthcoming memoir, Love is Not The Enemy. She has performed her poems and solo theater shows all over the United States, in South Africa, and across Europe.

Founded in 1965 and located in Detroit’s Cultural Center, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is the world's largest institution dedicated to the African American experience. For more information, please visit http://www.chwmuseum.org.